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Three Pillars of the Rally Updated

Three Pillars of the Rally Updated: Start a free trial of The Sevens Report.


What’s in Today’s Report:

  • Three Pillars of the Rally Updated (An Important Change to Watch)
  • Weekly Economic Cheat Sheet – Friday’s Flash Composite PMI in Focus

Futures are steady after a mostly quiet weekend of financial news and thinning volumes coming into the holiday-shortened Thanksgiving trading week.

Geopolitically, Iran-backed Houthi rebels seized a cargo ship in the Red Sea. This is rekindling a fear bid in global energy markets as seaborne oil cargoes are viewed as “at risk.” The rise in oil prices is modestly pressuring Treasuries this morning (yields up slightly).

Economically, German PPI met estimates of -11.0% Y/Y in October further solidifying the global peak-inflation argument.

Looking into today’s session, there is just one economic report on the calendar with Leading Indicators (E: -0.6%) due out shortly after the open and there is just one Fed speaker midday: Barkin (12:00 p.m. ET).

One potential catalyst that could shake up markets today is the 20-Year Treasury Bond auction at 1:00 p.m. ET as weak results could trigger a rebound in yields. Especially given fading attendance this week and subsequently less liquid market conditions across asset classes.

Three Pillars


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Market Multiple Levels Chart (October Edition)

Market Multiple Levels Chart (October Edition): Start a free trial of The Sevens Report.


What’s in Today’s Report:

  • Market Multiple Levels Chart (October Edition)

Futures are modestly lower following mixed economic data and as the Israel and Hamas war appeared set to escalate.

Economically, E.U. Industrial Production beat while Chinese CPI was flat y/y, increasing deflation concerns.

Israel warned more than one million residents to evacuate southern Gaza in the next 24 hours as it readies for a potential invasion and oil is rallying 3% as a result.

Earnings season starts today and there are several large banks that are reporting results.  In addition to the earnings, markets will want to hear positive commentary on consumer spending on the earnings calls.  Important reports today include:  JPM ($3.89), UNH ($ 6.33), BLK ($8.52), C ($1.26), WFC ($1.25).

Economically, the only notable report today is Consumer Sentiment (E: 67.5) and it would take a spike in inflation expectations for that to move markets.

Market Multiple Table - October Edition


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CPI Preview: Good, Bad, and Ugly

CPI Preview: Good, Bad, and Ugly – Start a free trial of The Sevens Report.


What’s in Today’s Report:

  • CPI Preview: Good, Bad, & Ugly
  • “Soft Components” of the NFIB Small Business Optimism Index Fall to GFC Lows
  • Chart – Equal-Weighted S&P 500 Index (RSP) Remains in Steep Downtrend, Underscoring Thin Market Breadth

U.S. equity futures are modestly higher this morning despite escalating tensions in the Middle East overnight as investors embrace a continued pullback in global bond yields after steady inflation data in the EU overnight.

Economically, German CPI was unchanged from August, coming in at 4.5% y/y in September, meeting estimates. The inline inflation print is helping bonds continue to stabilize and supporting modest risk-on money flows this morning.

Today, focus will be on economic data early with PPI (E: 0.3% m/m. 1.2% y/y) and Core PPI (E: 0.2% m/m, 2.1% y/y) due out ahead of the bell.

From there focus will turn to the Fed with multiple officials scheduled to speak: Waller, Bostic, Collins. Additionally, the latest FOMC meeting minutes will come at 2:00 p.m. ET.

Bottom line, if PPI is more or less inline with estimates and the FOMC minutes and Fed chatter over the course of the day continue to support the less-hawkish narrative of recent. Then this week’s rally can continue, however and reversal back higher in yields will pressure stocks and other risk assets.

CPI Preview: Good, Bad, & Ugly


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Upward Pressure in Treasury Yields

Upward Pressure in Treasury Yields: Tom Essaye Quoted in Barron’s


Stock Futures Slide as Bond Yields Keep Rising

Firstly, “Markets want to see Congress take some actual steps towards curbing spending and addressing the long-term fiscal issues facing the country,” wrote Tom Essaye, president of Sevens Report Research. “In order for that to happen, the Congress needs to function relatively normally, and that’s in doubt.”

“That doubt is adding to the upward pressure in Treasury yields. While that is not the only reason yields have risen, it is a contributing factor that the sooner the markets get more confidence in Congress being able to function properly, the sooner it removes a tailwind on Treasury yields (that will be good for stocks),” he continued.

Also, click here to view the full Barron’s article published on October 3rd, 2023. However, to see the Sevens Report’s full comments on the current market environment sign up here.

Upward Pressure in Treasury Yields

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Why Have Markets Become Volatile?

What’s in Today’s Report:

  • Why Have Markets Become Volatile?
  • Weekly Market Preview:  Are the Three Pillars of the Rally Under Attack?
  • Weekly Economic Cheat Sheet:  Key Growth and Jobs Data This Week

Futures are slightly higher following more small stimulus steps from Chinese authorities, as investors look ahead to an important week of economic data.

Chinese authorities reduced the stamp tax on stock investment, providing a small economic tailwind and boost to Chinese stock prices.

Economically, the only notable number was the EU Money Supply (M3) and the number was bad as M3 declined –0.4% vs. (E) 0.6%.

Today there are no notable economic reports so markets will focus on the tech sector to see if it can continue to stabilize after last Thursday’s ugly reversal.

Current Market Glossary (For Clients & Prospects)

What’s in Today’s Report:

  • Current Market Glossary (For Clients & Prospects)

Futures are slightly lower following a night of disappointing tech earnings.

NFLX, TSLA and TSM all posted disappointing earnings results (stocks down 3% – 6% pre-market) and that’s weighing on Nasdaq and S&P 500 futures.

There was no notable economic data overnight.

Today will be another busy day of data and earnings results.  On the economic front, the two key reports are Weekly Jobless Claims (E: 250k) and Philly Fed (E: -10.0), and as you can guess (and especially at these stretched valuations) markets will want to see more Goldilocks data (so stable claims and Philly and falling prices).  We also get Existing Home Sales (E: 4.23M) but, barring a big miss, that shouldn’t move markets.

Turning to earnings, focus today is on industrials and consumer/healthcare names, and some important results to watch include:  AAL ($1.58), TSM ($1.07), JNJ ($2.61), PM ($1.48), COF ($3.31), CSX ($0.49), and PPG ($2.14).

Market Multiple Table Chart (July Update)

What’s in Today’s Report:

  • Market Multiple Table Chart (July Update)
  • Why More Goldilocks Data Sent Stocks Higher Again Tuesday

Futures are little changed ahead of a busy day of earnings and despite more encouraging news on global disinflation.

UK CPI rose less than expected, gaining 0.1% vs. (E) 0.4% m/m and 7.9% vs. (E) 8.2% y/y, providing bullish investors more evidence that inflation is declining globally, although that good news was partially offset by a very slightly higher final look at EU HICP (up 5.5% y/y vs. 5.4%).

Today focus will turn to earnings and the key reports to watch are: TSLA ($ 0.82), NFLX ($2.83) and GS ($3.25), as those results will help set the tone for the start of earnings season (results from companies up to today have been fine, although it’s very, very early).    Other notable earnings include:  ASML ($4.97), USB ($1.13), UAL ($3.99), and IBM ($2.00).

Economically, the only notable number today is Housing Starts (E: 1.48M) but barring a shocking miss, that shouldn’t move the broader markets.

What Pushes Stocks Higher from Here?

What’s in Today’s Report:

  • What Pushes Stocks Higher from Here?
  • Weekly Market Preview:  Earnings Take Center Stage
  • Weekly Economic Cheat Sheet:  Growth Data in Focus this Week

Futures are slightly lower following mixed Chinese economic data and a potential further escalation of the Russia/Ukraine war.

Chinese economic data was mixed as GDP and Retail Sales both missed estimates, while Industrial Production beat, and the data will keep markets  wanting more stimulus.

Possibility of further escalation of the Russia/Ukraine war increased after Ukraine claimed responsibility for the destruction of a bridge linking Crimea and Russia.

Today focus will be on the first data point for July, the Empire Manufacturing Index (E: -4.3).  Markets will want to see this number be stronger than expectations and ideally turn positive, furthering the “Golidlocks” market narrative of falling inflation but stable growth.

PPI and Jobless Claims Strengthen the “Goldilocks” Narrative

What’s in Today’s Report:

  • PPI and Jobless Claims Strengthen the “Goldilocks” Narrative

Futures are little changed following a quiet night of news as markets digest the Wed/Thurs rally and focus turns to the start of the Q2 earnings season.

Economically, there was more evidence of global disinflation (or deflation) as German Wholesale Prices (think their PPI) declined –2.9% y/y vs. (-1.2%) y/y.

Today focus will be on earnings, as we get several major bank earnings results:  JPM ($5.92), C ($1.31), WFC ($1.15), and BLK ($8.47) as well as UNH ($5.92).  These large cap companies usually don’t provide too many surprises in their earnings reports, but markets will want to hear positive commentary on the overall environment to further support this latest rally in stocks.

There are also two notable inflation linked economic reports today, Import & Export Prices (E: -0.2%, -0.4%), Consumer Sentiment (E: 65.0), but barring any major surprises they shouldn’t move markets.

What the CPI Report Means for Markets

What’s in Today’s Report:

  • What the CPI Report Means for Markets
  • EIA and Oil Market Analysis

It’s “green on the screen” as global indices and U.S. futures extend yesterday’s CPI driven rally.

Economically, UK Industrial Production (IP) was better than feared (down –1.2% vs. (E) -1.5%) while EU IP slightly missed estimates (0.2% vs. (E) 0.5%).

Earnings season officially begins today and the first reports are solid, as PEP and DAL both beat earnings estimates.

Today focus will be on economic data, specifically Jobless Claims (E: 245K) and PPI (E: 0.2% m/m, 0.4% y/y, Core PPI E: 0.2% m/m, 2.8% y/y).  If jobless claims are mostly stable and PPI falls more than expected, markets should extend yesterday’s “Immaculate Disinflation” driven rally. Finally, there is one Fed speaker today, Waller (6:45 p.m. ET), but markets are ignoring hawkish rhetoric right now so he shouldn’t move markets.